Cervi: Pack golf coach teaches women a fun lesson

Those in the golf community, from weekend warriors to top amateurs to club and touring pros, they all will agree on one thing: Greg Dillon is the nicest person in the game.

The women’s golf coach at Colorado State University-Pueblo has the patience of Job, can carry on an animated conversation about lint and is genuinely happy to see you — whomever you are.

A former player at CSU-Pueblo, Dillon has built the school’s women’s team into a perennial power in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The three-time conference coach of the year has recruited well as Leina Kim recently earned RMAC player of the year and freshman of the year honors.

That’s why Dillon is the perfect pro to run a program designed to introduce, or reintroduce, the game of golf to women.

Golf, as maddening as it is spectacular, takes time, patience and practice. People these days appear to be lacking in all three. Dillon is here to help restore a little bit of order in that regard.

Dillon also knows that at it’s absolute worst, golf should still be fun.

“That’s the whole concept,” Dillon said. “We’re trying to get rid of the stigma that you have to be a guy, or be good, to learn and to enjoy the game of golf. These programs we have are for women only and we hope to get more women involved in the game.”

On Thursday, Dillon and CSU-Pueblo will host a special ThunderGals Divots and Drinks golf clinic at Desert Hawk in Pueblo West. This is for women only, and it’s a fun way to get acquainted, or reacquainted, with the game of golf.

“Divots and Drinks is something we’ve done since 2009,” Dillon said. “Every Wednesday night at 5:30, we offer a 45-minute lesson for ladies, with myself, Jason Allen and Mike Zaremba. Then we go out on the course with the ladies and let them play a three-hole scramble and then buy them their first drink after the round.

“We want beginners, ladies who are curious about golf or just want to try something new. It’s been awesome.”

On Friday, the course will host third annual ThunderGals Open. This is an 18-hole, four-player scramble — again, for women only.

For just $75, players get the Thursday night clinic and three-hole warm-up scramble and then the tournament on Friday.

“The women’s golf team and myself will do the clinic on Thursday, and then the CSU-Pueblo coaches from all the sports will be out to carry the players’ bags to the carts on Friday, just trying to tie in golf with the school,” Dillon said.

And, like they say on TV, “Wait, there’s more!”

“You wanna talk fun? The Wildwood Casino people are giving every lady who plays in the tournament a stay-and-play package of a hotel room for two, two dinners and two breakfasts,” Dillon said. “That’s a heck of a deal for any golf scramble.”

Women who would like more information on these programs may call Desert Hawk and 547-2280 or the CSU-Pueblo athletic department at 549-2711.

Chieftain Deputy Sports Editor Joe E. Cervi writes a weekly golf column. He may be reached at 719-544-3520, ext. 454, or by email at jcervi@chieftain.com. Follow him on Twitter: @JoeECervi.